Top Israeli, Palestinian officials meet

Wednesday’s meeting between Silvan Shalom, Israel’s deputy prime minister and minister of regional cooperation, and Bassim Khoury, the Palestinian Authority’s economics minister, at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem was the first Cabinet-level contact between the two governments since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office six months ago, according to reports.

The officials were set to discuss easing travel restrictions on Palestinian businessmen wishing to enter Israel, increasing Israeli meat exports to areas under PA control and allowing into Israel dairy products from the Palestinian Authority, and allowing more Palestinians to seek treatment at Israeli hospitals, as well as a proposal to build joint industrial parks.

Other government officials also joined the ministers.

Netanyahu has called for boosting the Palestinian economy as a step toward peace.